60,000 Runners Set for 50th Anniversary of New York Marathon
Field size has grown from 2,000 to 60,000, with a route change in the Bronx and title fights in both open and wheelchair divisions.
By Jonathan Reed ·
The New York City Marathon will host approximately 60,000 participants on Sunday, marking the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course. The field size represents a massive expansion from the 1976 inaugural five-borough race, which featured just over 2,000 competitors. Women now comprise nearly half of the starting field, a stark contrast to the 88 female runners present in the original event.
Bill Rodgers, the sole four-time men’s winner between 1976 and 1979, recalled the intensity of the debut. He noted that runners were nervous about the new Verrazzano Bridge start, a sharp departure from their previous habit of running loops in Central Park. The course change in 1976 was timed to coincide with the U.S. Bicentennial and to boost morale in a city facing financial strain. Rodgers said the sport evolved globally after that day, moving away from a purely local focus.
Defending champion Benson Kipruto of Kenya aims to repeat his 2025 victory, a win decided by three-hundredths of a second over Alexander Mutiso. Kipruto has reviewed the finish line footage repeatedly, describing the outcome as cinematic. In the women’s race, Hellen Obiri returns to defend her title after setting a course record of 2 hours, 19 minutes, 51 seconds. That time surpassed the previous benchmark by nearly three minutes, a record set by Margaret Okayo in 2003. Obiri stated that her primary objective on Sunday is to secure the win.
The race route will undergo a minor adjustment for the first time in 15 years. In the Bronx, the path at Mile 20 will shift slightly to reduce the number of turns from seven to five. Organizers cited the need to ease street closures in that area as a primary reason for the change. The course still covers all five boroughs, a format that first-time runner Dana Smolin, a local resident, called extra special given the anniversary. She said she hopes to inspire young spectators who grew up watching the event on television.
In the wheelchair division, two-time defending champion Susannah Scaroni seeks a third consecutive title. She is competing roughly three months after giving birth to her first child. Fellow racer Tatyana McFadden, who is pursuing her sixth New York title and 25th overall marathon victory, expressed awe at Scaroni’s return. McFadden emphasized the importance of seeing women and mothers return to competitive racing, calling for greater support and encouragement in the sport.
